Wrench



ay 27, 1947. E; SCHULTZ 2,423,933

WRENCH ,Filed June 9, 1944 Patented May 27,1947

WRENG'H" Edward Schultz;-, Ghicago,.1ll,, assignor. to, The.v Nagel-GhasecMfg Go Chicagp, IIL, a. corporation .oLIllinois.

Application J1me 9, 1944; SeriakNos. 539.;425

(Cl. ,81.--6.l.)l

1 Claim. 1:.

Therpresent: invention:- relates. to. awrench of thetype which utilizes a rntatablezdouble-ended work-engaging socket together. with: a, ratchetpawl mechanism forconfining the rotary: movements of the socket to one direction.

In. the embodimentv herein illustrated, the wrench comprises an elongated chambered handle mounting near-each end-" t'hereofi a-rotatable work engaging. socket, eachpreferably of. a; different size. Each socket is open through. from end to end so as to receive, from either end the nut or bolt head which is to lie-engaged. Wher the movement to beimparted, toe the work is: in; a clockwise. direction, the appropriate end; of the socket.-is;used; and for areverse': movement, the opposite socket end may be-engaged with, the work. In" this way it is unnecessary to-provide for reversing the action, of. the. pawl-ratchet mechanism.

For-its objects my invention aims to provide; a wrench; of. this. general. character: which may be produced at small expense, which will be strong and durable for the accomplishment of its intended purpose, which will comprise a minimum number of parts to facilitate assembly, which utilizes a single, easy acting spring in operative engagement with both pawl-ratchet mechanisms, and which will aiTord not only a protecting enclosure for the operative parts but also a comfortable and convenient grip for the hand when the wrench is to be manipulated.

These and other objects of my invention may be realized from a, construction of which a suggestive embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a top elevational view of the wrench in its entirety;

Fig. 2 which is a side elevation of the wrench, is broken away in one end region to exhibit a sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken, respectively, on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The body of the wrench Which forms the handle H comprises two companion plates H) nd l I, each having alon opposite sides flanges l2 and I3 extending toward the other for meeting engagement therewith. As shown, the handle is preferably bowed inwardly from each end to a region of minimum width in the center, and the flanges which define the edges of the handle are rounded over at their point of juncture with the handle plates. In this way the wrench contour is rendered convenient and comfortable for seizure and manipulation.

The flanges l2 and I3 terminate short of each end of the wrench handle where I provide in the two plates Ill and H registering openings constituting a pair of bearings for a. work-engaging 2? socket. Spwhich wi1l= presently, he, described. As show-n; tWOZSHChSOGketSaI'E provided, one at. each of; the wrench. Preferably the internal size of. one socket diners immthat ofthe other Where-.- byto-adapt the wrench for engagementwithnuts or boltsof differentsize.

Each: workeengaging, socket which. is. open, at both ends is; rotatablymounted in; eachpair of bearings- 'Asshown. each socketis. formed. interiorlywith serrationsor teeth. L6 for operative engagement withanut, bolthead, on other device which ,is to be, gripped. EX-teriorly betweenitstwo ends, each. socket is. formed. with. an. outstandin bandlfll having teeth [8. Thi band which con.- stitutes, in effect, a..ratehet is so disp sedas .tolic in part between the flanges of the two, handle plates and to afford an end closure for thechambertherebetween.. Becauseoi its .expos dposition at, the wrench end, the. bandmay. be engagedby thezfingers torotate thesocket. toad sired position.

The companion plates forming the handle wrench may be secured together in any appropriate way as, for example, by a pair of rivets 20 one relatively close to each end of the wrench. A shown, each rivet is enlarged at 2| intermediately of its ends to provide a stud 22 having opposed shoulders against which the handle plates H! and H may rest when their flanges l2 and [3 are substantially in meeting engagement. The rivet ends are upset or spread in the usual way to lock the handle plates against separation.

The intermediate stud portion of each rivet is disposed Within the handle chamber to afford a pivota1 mounting for a pawl P having an acting end 26 in operative engagement with the proximate ratchet band. The opposite pawl end is formed with a heel 2! receiving engagement from one end of a leaf spring L which extends lengthwi-se of the handle between the two pawls. As shown, this spring is of undulating contour to provide two curved portions a and b in point engagement with the flanges l2 and 13 along one side of the wrench handle. Between these two curves is a reverse curve 0 which is disposed toward the opposite side of the wrench handle. The ends d of the spring are preferably turned for face engagement with the heels of the pawls. A spring of this character, when fitted in place within the handle chamber and in operative engagement with thetwo pawls, is maintained under tension so as to hold each pawl in operative engagement with its associated ratchet band.

In operation, the socket of appropriate size is fitted over the work, and the wrench handle is then oscillated (or rotated completely) to trans"- mit a desired forward motion to the socket and to the work. The wrench is also free to execute a reverse movement without rotation of the socket, the pawl ratchet mechanism being ineffective during such a stroke. In this reverse movement the pawl, which is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet band, is free to slide over its teeth to occupy another and different position relative to the ratchet. In this movement the pawl is required to rock upon its pivot, i. e., the rivet stud 22, against the tension of the spring L. When this takes place, the spring curves are deflected somewhat as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will be noted that this deflection changes the shape of the spring throughout substantially its entire length, and that the spring for substantially its entire length is effective to exert its tension force against each pawl only one of which is rocked at a time. This makes for easy and dependable pawl action.

A wrench answering to this description may be produced as to most of its parts by stamping operations. It requires but two securing rivets each of which serves as a stud whereon one of the pawls is mounted. I employ but a single springwhich requires no fastening or securement other than that which is afiorded by its loose engagement with one of the handle walls and with the two pawls with which it is operatively engaged and by which it is confined against endwise movement. In all these respects the wrench has the advantage of extreme simplicity and its production and assembly may, in consequence, be attained with a minimum of efiort and expense.

I claim:

A wrench comprising a hollow handle having an interior chamber and provided at both ends with transversely aligned bearings, transverse fastening devices located adjacent said bearings,

a pair of open-ended work engaging sockets journaled in said bearings and provided intermediate their ends with ratchet bands having teeth, a pair of short pawls pivoted intermediate their ends on said fastening devices and consisting of an outer tooth-engaging portion and an inner heel, and a long leaf spring arranged within the chamber of the handle and of a width approximately that of the chamber and extending lengthwise of the handle from one pawl to the other, and consisting normally of an upwardly bowed central portion and end portions extending from the central bowed portion and arranged at an inclination and having their terminals bearing against the heels of the pawls at the lower surfaces thereof, said spring being retained in operative position solely by said pawls and the walls of the casing and maintaining the pawls in engagement with the ratchet teeth.

EDWARD SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,430 Stevenson Dec. 4, 1906 1,733,012 Henderson Oct. 22, 1929 334,010 Follett Jan. 12, 1886 951,056 Clark Mar. 1, 1910 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 391,210 France Oct. 1908 

